Uber Technologies has announced plans to diversify payment options on its food delivery platform and introduce artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities to enhance user experience. These innovations are expected to be rolled out between the current year and 2024.
Uber Eats: “Sales Aisle” for promotional offers
Uber Eats will introduce a dedicated section named the “Sales Aisle” to showcase promotional offers, providing users with easier access to discounts and deals.
To offer a more tailored and convenient service, food delivery platforms are increasingly investing in AI technology. In a bid to assist customers with grocery shopping inquiries, rival platform Instacart partnered with OpenAI, the creator of AI chatbot ChatGPT, to launch “Ask Instacart” in May. Similarly, DoorDash is reported to be developing an AI chatbot called “DashAI” to expedite the food ordering process, as reported by Bloomberg News in July.
Uber’s collaboration with federal healthcare programmes
Uber has also entered into partnerships with federal healthcare programs like America’s Managed Medicaid and Medicare Advantage. Starting in 2024, the company will accept relevant waiver payments for both Uber and Uber Eats transactions. Additionally, recipients of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Programme, which offers cash benefits for food purchases, will have the option to utilise their waivers for grocery shopping on Uber Eats in 2024.
This strategic move reflects a broader industry trend of targeting low-income households to expand market share in a competitive environment. DoorDash and Instacart already permit consumers to use SNAP waivers on their respective platforms.
